<p>Kottayam (Kerala): Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Thursday clarified that the Devaswom Board has not made any decision regarding the custom of prohibiting male devotees from wearing shirts inside temples.</p>.<p>He stated that temple customs and rituals are determined by the tantris and respective temple committees.</p>.<p>"This is not a matter decided by the Devaswom Board," Vasavan told reporters.</p>.Kerala's Sivagiri Mutt to push ahead with stir to abolish practice of removing shirts in temples.<p>Sivagiri Mutt president Swami Satchidananda had said that the temples should give up the custom of not allowing male devotees wearing shirts into temples.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had welcomed the Swami’s stand and said such practices could be avoided in accordance with the changing times.</p>.<p>This drew a sharp reaction from the NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair, who said the government should not interfere with the customs and practices in temples.</p>.<p>"In his speech at Sivagiri, Swami Satchidananda remarked that several rituals and customs exist in various places, and many of them should be changed over time," the minister said.</p>.<p>The Swami urged abolishing the custom of not allowing male devotees wearing shirts into the Gurudeva temples and continuing the fight against superstition and unethical practices, the minister added.</p>.<p>The chief minister seconded his views and following Swami's speech, this practice ended at Kumarakom Gurudeva temple, Vasavan, who is also minister for cooperatives and ports, said.</p>.<p>The customs and rituals of temples are determined by the tantris and respective committees, and this is not a matter to be challenged by law, he added, stating that the Swami's speech had triggered a debate in the state.</p>.<p>Speaking about the Sabarimala ropeway project, Vasavan said it is set to become a reality soon.</p>.<p>Discussions are underway with the Forest and Revenue departments, and necessary steps are being taken to move the project forward, he added.</p>.<p>"The project will take at least one-and-a-half years to complete," the minister stated.</p>.<p>The successful and smooth conduct of the Sabarimala pilgrimage was the result of a collective effort, with preparations made well in advance, he added.</p>.<p>"For next year's pilgrimage, arrangements will begin even earlier to ensure seamless management," he said.</p>.<p>Regarding the permission for the establishment of a brewery plant by a private firm in Elappully panchayat, Palakkad, the minister accused the opposition of taking a stance that benefits the out-of-state spirit lobby.</p>.<p>He stated that Kerala requires 35.55 crore litres of ethanol for oil refining, with a transportation cost of Rs 10 per litre.</p>.<p>"With the commissioning of the Palakkad distillery unit, this cost would be reduced to Rs 2 per litre. Additionally, the project is expected to generate direct employment for around 600 people. Blindly opposing such an industrial venture is driven by ill intent," he alleged.</p>
<p>Kottayam (Kerala): Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan on Thursday clarified that the Devaswom Board has not made any decision regarding the custom of prohibiting male devotees from wearing shirts inside temples.</p>.<p>He stated that temple customs and rituals are determined by the tantris and respective temple committees.</p>.<p>"This is not a matter decided by the Devaswom Board," Vasavan told reporters.</p>.Kerala's Sivagiri Mutt to push ahead with stir to abolish practice of removing shirts in temples.<p>Sivagiri Mutt president Swami Satchidananda had said that the temples should give up the custom of not allowing male devotees wearing shirts into temples.</p>.<p>Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had welcomed the Swami’s stand and said such practices could be avoided in accordance with the changing times.</p>.<p>This drew a sharp reaction from the NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair, who said the government should not interfere with the customs and practices in temples.</p>.<p>"In his speech at Sivagiri, Swami Satchidananda remarked that several rituals and customs exist in various places, and many of them should be changed over time," the minister said.</p>.<p>The Swami urged abolishing the custom of not allowing male devotees wearing shirts into the Gurudeva temples and continuing the fight against superstition and unethical practices, the minister added.</p>.<p>The chief minister seconded his views and following Swami's speech, this practice ended at Kumarakom Gurudeva temple, Vasavan, who is also minister for cooperatives and ports, said.</p>.<p>The customs and rituals of temples are determined by the tantris and respective committees, and this is not a matter to be challenged by law, he added, stating that the Swami's speech had triggered a debate in the state.</p>.<p>Speaking about the Sabarimala ropeway project, Vasavan said it is set to become a reality soon.</p>.<p>Discussions are underway with the Forest and Revenue departments, and necessary steps are being taken to move the project forward, he added.</p>.<p>"The project will take at least one-and-a-half years to complete," the minister stated.</p>.<p>The successful and smooth conduct of the Sabarimala pilgrimage was the result of a collective effort, with preparations made well in advance, he added.</p>.<p>"For next year's pilgrimage, arrangements will begin even earlier to ensure seamless management," he said.</p>.<p>Regarding the permission for the establishment of a brewery plant by a private firm in Elappully panchayat, Palakkad, the minister accused the opposition of taking a stance that benefits the out-of-state spirit lobby.</p>.<p>He stated that Kerala requires 35.55 crore litres of ethanol for oil refining, with a transportation cost of Rs 10 per litre.</p>.<p>"With the commissioning of the Palakkad distillery unit, this cost would be reduced to Rs 2 per litre. Additionally, the project is expected to generate direct employment for around 600 people. Blindly opposing such an industrial venture is driven by ill intent," he alleged.</p>